Sample dispensing apparatus and automatic analyzer including the same

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a small-sized automatic analyzer being compact, enabling a large number of analysis items to be carried out, and having a high processing speed. The automatic analyzer is particularly suitably applied to a medical analyzer used for qualitative/quantitative analysis of living body samples, such as urine and blood. A plurality of sample dispensing mechanism s capable of being operated independently of each other are provided to suck a sample from any one of a plurality of sample suction positions and to discharge the sucked sample to any one of a plurality of positions on a reaction disk. The automatic analyzer having a high processing capability can be thus realized without increasing the system size.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/185,037, filed Feb. 20, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/473,666, filed May 17, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,691,148, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/895,040, filed Sep. 30, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,197,754, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/780,743, filed Feb.19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,824,915, which claims priority to JP2003-74751, filed Mar. 19, 2003, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sample dispensing apparatus for usein an analyzer in which a sample and a reagent are mixed with each otherto carry out qualitative/quantitative analysis of a particularingredient in the sample, and to an automatic analyzer including thesample dispensing apparatus. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a sample dispensing apparatus with a high sampling(pipetting) capability per hour, and to an automatic analyzer includingthe sample dispensing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Taking as an example a medical automatic analyzer used for analyzingparticular ingredients in living body samples, such as blood and urine,the medical automatic analyzer is essential for carrying out analysiswith high efficiency in, e.g., large-, medium- and small-scaledhospitals handling a large number of patients, and a clinic centercarrying out analysis under contract with those hospitals or doctor'soffices.

In that type of automatic analyzer, it is demanded that the analyzer ismore compact, is able to perform more kinds of analysis, and has ahigher processing speed. To satisfy those demands, various kinds ofautomatic analyzers have been proposed so far.

One measure for increasing the processing speed is to increase asampling speed. Patent Reference 1, JP,A 3-140869, discloses anautomatic chemical analyzer including a sample dispensing mechanismwherein two sampling nozzles are provided such that the sampling nozzlesare able to carry out sampling from one sample container to two reactioncuvettes at different timings.

Also, Patent Reference 2, JP,A 2001-66316, discloses a sample dispensingapparatus wherein one sampling arm is provided with a plurality ofsampling nozzles, and the sampling nozzles can be controlled todischarge samples independently of each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the method disclosed in Patent Reference 1, two dispensing probesare able to perform the dispensing operations at different timings, andtherefore 1200 tests/hour can be processed with the operation equivalentto that required for processing 600 tests/hour in usual cases. Accordingto the embodiment described in Patent Reference 1, however, the twodispensing probes are supported by one probe shaft and they cannotperform the dispensing operations independently of each other. It isthus considered that the two dispensing probes cannot be disposed on thesame plane of rotation from the structural point of view and thedispensing operations of the two dispensing probes must be synchronizedwith each other.

Also, with the method disclosed in Patent Reference 2, because twodispensing probes are provided on one dispensing arm, it is consideredthat the two dispensing probes cannot perform the dispensing operationsat free different timings similarly to the method disclosed in PatentReference 1.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asample dispensing apparatus and an automatic analyzer including thesample dispensing apparatus, which has a plurality of dispensing probescapable of performing the dispensing operations independently of eachother, and can increase a dispensing speed while realizing thedispensing operations at flexible timings.

The sample dispensing apparatus of the present invention is suitablyemployed in a medical automatic analyzer, but it is as a matter ofcourse that the sample dispensing apparatus is also applicable toanalyzers for organic/inorganic samples, etc.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is constituted asfollows.

In a sample dispensing apparatus comprising a sample container loadingmechanism capable of loading a plurality of sample containers eachcontaining a sample to be analyzed and including a mechanism capable ofchanging arrangement of the plurality of sample containers; a reactioncuvette loading mechanism capable of loading a plurality of reactioncuvettes in each of which the sample to be analyzed and a reagent aremixed with each other, and including a mechanism capable of changingarrangement of the plurality of the reaction cuvettes; and a sampledispensing mechanism for sucking the sample from the sample containerand discharging the sucked sample into the reaction cuvette, the sampledispensing apparatus includes a plurality of sample dispensingmechanisms including nozzles for sucking and discharging the sample, theplurality of nozzles being vertically movable to suck and discharge thesample independently of each other, and mechanisms capable of moving thenozzles between the sample container and the reaction cuvetteindependently of each other.

The sample container loading mechanism may be in any desired form solong as it is able to move the position of each sample container. Forexample, the sample container loading mechanism may include a sampledisk capable of loading the plurality of sample containers arrangedthereon along a periphery of the disk. While the expression “sampledisk” is used, the sample disk is not always limited to a circular disk.Stated another way, in the case of employing a circular disk, theexpression “along a periphery of the disk” can be regarded as meaning“along a circumference of the disk”.

As an alternative form of the sample container loading mechanism, a rackcapable of loading one or more sample containers may be used and movedto convey each sample container.

The reaction cuvette loading mechanism can also be embodied in variousforms. More specifically, the reaction cuvette loading mechanism may bein the form of a reaction disk, or may have a structure capable oflinearly moving the reaction cuvettes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automatic analyzer to which the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic analyzer to which thepresent invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing operations of sample dispensingmechanisms (sample probes) according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, looking from above;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing operations of the sampledispensing mechanisms (sample probes) in the present invention, lookingfrom side;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a sample dispensing mechanismin the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing sampling timings;

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the present invention, each of the sample dispensing mechanismsrepeats operations of sucking the sample and discharging the suckedsample into the reaction cuvette. The provision of the plurality ofnozzles enables those operations to be performed such that while onesample dispensing mechanism discharges the sample into the reactioncuvette on the reaction disk after sucking the sample, the other nozzlesucks the sample. Accordingly, the standby time of the nozzle until itstarts the suction of the sample can be cut down and high-speedprocessing can be realized.

Because a plurality of sample dispensing mechanisms are able to carryout the dispensing operations independently of each other, the samplecan be sucked from the sample container at a shorter interval.Correspondingly, the time allowed for the sample container to move to asample suction position is shortened and a difficulty rises in movingthe sample container to one predetermined location in time. This acts asa factor reducing the processing capability. However, a reduction of theprocessing capability can be avoided by constructing each of the sampledispensing mechanisms to be able to suck the sample from plural samplesuction positions.

The sample dispensing apparatus includes the moving mechanism capable ofreciprocating the nozzle between the sample suction position and thereaction disk. A path along which the sample dispensing mechanism movesmay be linear or curved. To enable the sample dispensing mechanisms tooperate independently of each other, however, some means is required foravoiding the sample dispensing mechanisms from interfering with eachother. For example, when the sample dispensing mechanisms are operatedin the same plane, escape positions are provided on the paths ofmovements of the sample dispensing mechanisms so that one of the sampledispensing mechanisms will not restrict the operation of the othersample dispensing mechanism between the sample suction position and thereaction disk, or the sample dispensing mechanisms are disposed suchthat the paths of their movements are surely kept from interfering witheach other. Alternatively, moving parts of the sample dispensingmechanisms are disposed in a vertically spaced relation to be kept outof interference between them. As an alternative, it is also possible toprovide rotary shafts each positioned at middle between the samplesuction position and the reaction disk, and to move the plural sampledispensing mechanisms to the sample suction position or the reactiondisk by utilizing the respective rotary shafts. When the sampledispensing mechanisms are moved by utilizing the rotary shafts, each ofthe sample dispensing mechanisms may be provided with any other suitablemoving means so that the sample dispensing mechanism can be moved todesired one of plural sample suction positions and desired one of pluralpositions on the reaction disk.

The nozzle may have a liquid level detecting function for confirmingwhether the least necessary amount of the sample is present in thesample container or not, in order that the sample can be positivelysucked with the aid of the liquid level detecting function. In thesample dispensing apparatus including the plurality of sample dispensingmechanisms, at the time when it is determined in any one of the sampledispensing mechanisms that the sample container does not contain thesample in amount not sufficient to ensure positive sucking of thesample, another sample dispensing mechanism that has been scheduled tosuck the sample from the same sample container can be controlled inaccordance with the determination result so as to stop sucking of thesample from the same sample container and to make a shift of the suckingoperation to the next sample container. As a result, the unnecessaryoperation of the sample dispensing mechanism can be reduced.

The nozzle may also have a clogging detecting function for confirmingwhether any factor causing clogging in a flow passage of the nozzle ispresent in the sample container or not. In the sample dispensingapparatus including the plurality of sample dispensing mechanisms, atthe time when it is determined in any one of the sample dispensingmechanisms that any factor causing clogging is present in the samplecontainer, another sample dispensing mechanism that has been scheduledto suck the sample from the same sample container can be controlled inaccordance with the determination result so as to stop sucking of thesample from the same sample container and to make a shift of the suckingoperation to the next sample container. As a result, the unnecessaryoperation of the sample dispensing mechanism can be reduced.

Further, even in the case of one of the nozzles having failed to operatedue to any abnormality, because the sample dispensing apparatus includesthe plurality of sample dispensing mechanisms capable of operatingindependently of each other, the analyzing operation can be continued byusing the sample dispensing mechanism operating normally unlessoperations of all the sample dispensing mechanisms are disabled uponabnormalities at the same time.

In other words, if at least one of the plurality of nozzles is able tonormally operate, the analysis can be performed by operating only theoperable one of the plurality of sample dispensing mechanisms.

In sample dispensing, for the purpose of avoiding thinning of the samplein the flow passage, the sample is also sucked as a dummy in additionthe amount of the sample actually pipetted into the reaction cuvette.The dummy is finally discharged and discarded into a washing tank. Whilethe provision of the plurality of sample dispensing mechanisms increasesthe processing capability, it is sometimes important to carry out all ofthe analysis items requested for the sample with priority over areduction of the processing capability, for example, when the amount ofthe sample is very small such as a sample taken from an infant. In thatcase, the sample dispensing operation is controlled in accordance withinformation obtained from the sample container so as to carry out all ofthe requested analysis items even for the sample in a very small amountby operating only a particular one of the sample dispensing mechanismsto suck and discharge the sample instead of employing all of the sampledispensing mechanisms. When the sample dispensing operation is carriedout in different ways depending on the type of the sample contained inthe sample container as mentioned above, whether to make the function ofselectively operating the sample dispensing mechanisms effective or notcan be set, for example, from an operating screen on a display. As aresult, it is possible to provide the sample dispensing apparatus havinga higher value added.

The larger the number of nozzles, the higher is the processing speed.However, the increased number of nozzles requires a larger space and amore complicated structure because of the problems that escape positionsmust be prepared for the respective sample dispensing mechanisms toavoid interference between them, and that the number of reagentdispensing mechanisms for discharging reagents into the reactioncuvettes, into which the samples have been discharged, must also beincreased. Thus, the number of nozzles is desirably selected, asappropriate, depending on the required processing capability, etc.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a plan viewand a perspective view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention. Reaction cuvettes 35 are arranged on a reaction disk 36 alongits circumference. A reagent disk 42 is disposed inside the reactiondisk 36, and a reagent disk 41 is disposed outside the reaction disk 36.A plurality of reagent containers 40 are loadable on each of the reagentdisks 41, 42 along its circumference. One reagent container 40 containstwo kinds of reagents. A conveyer mechanism 12 for moving a rack 11 withsample containers 10 loaded thereon is installed near the reaction disk36. Rails 25, 26 are laid to extend between both the reagent disks 41and 42 at a level above them. Reagent probes 20, 21 are disposed on therail 25 to be movable not only in the direction parallel to the rail 25,but also in the vertical direction. Reagent probes 22, 23 are disposedon the rail 26 to be movable in the 3-axis directions with respect tothe rail 26. The reagent probes 20, 21, 22 and 23 are connected to areagent pump 24. Between the reaction disk 36 and the conveyer mechanism12, sample probes 15, 16 are disposed to be rotatable in respectiveplanes and movable in the vertical direction.

The sample probes 15, 16 are each moved along a circular arc about arotary shaft to alternately dispense a sample from the sample containerinto the reaction cuvettes. The sample probes 15, 16 include mechanismscapable of changing the probe heights, and perform dispensing operationsat the timings and the probe heights both properly adjusted inaccordance with a preset program so that the movements of both thesample probes will not interfere with each other.

A construction of a sample dispensing mechanism according to anotherembodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.FIG. 3 shows, from above an analyzer, the paths along which the sampleprobes move, FIG. 4 shows structures of the sample probes from the frontof the analyzer, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mechanismfor moving the sample probes. The sample probes 15, 16 are each movedbetween one sample container 61 placed on the rack 11 and located in aposition where a sample is to be sucked by the sample probe and one ofthe reaction cuvettes 35 located in a position 62 where a sample is tobe discharged from the sample probe. The sample probe 15 is movableamong three points, i.e., the sample container 61, the sample dischargeposition 62, and a washing position 63. Numeral 65 denotes the pathalong which the sample probe 15 moves. On the other hand, the sampleprobe 16 is movable among three points, i.e., the sample container 61,the sample discharge position 62, and a washing position 64. Numeral 66denotes the path along which the sample probe 16 moves.

The sample probe 15 is movable along a rail 71 by a drive source (notshown) in the back-and-forth direction between the sample container 61and the sample discharge position 62, while it is movable along a rail73 by a drive source (not shown) in the left-and-right direction betweenthe washing position 63 and the sample container 61 or the sampledischarge position 62. The operation of moving the sample probe 15 inthe back-and-forth direction and the operation of moving the sampleprobe 15 in the left-and-right direction are performed such that one ofthose operations follows the other. As a result, a sample probe head 75is movable in a plane constituted by both the rails 71, 73, and a nozzle77 having a vertical moving mechanism enables the sample probe head 75to move in a three-dimensional space.

Similarly, the sample probe 16 is movable along a rail 72 by a drivesource (not shown) in the back-and-forth direction between the samplecontainer 61 and the sample discharge position 62, while it is movablealong a rail 74 by a drive source (not shown) in the left-and-rightdirection between the washing position 64 and the sample container 61 orthe sample discharge position 62. The operation of moving the sampleprobe 16 in the back-and-forth direction and the operation of moving thesample probe 16 in the left-and-right direction are performed such thatone of those operations follows the other. As a result, a sample probehead 76 is movable in a plane constituted by both the rails 72, 74, anda nozzle 78 having a vertical moving mechanism enables the sample probe76 head to move in a three-dimensional space.

Also, each of the sample probes 15, 16 has a liquid level detectingfunction and a clogging detecting function. Further, the sample probes15, 16 are connected to a sample pump 14, and operations of the sampleprobes 15, 16 are controlled by drive systems independent from eachother.

Around the reaction disk 36, there are arranged mixing units 30, 31, alight source 50, an optical detector 51, and a cuvette washing mechanism45. The cuvette washing mechanism 45 is connected to a washing pump 46.Washing ports 54 are disposed within respective areas where the sampleprobes 15, 16, the reagent probes 20, 21, 22 and 23, and the mixingunits 30, 31 are movable. A sample pump 14, the reagent pump 24, thewashing pump 46, the optical detector 51, the reaction disk 36, thereagent disk 41, the reagent probes 20, 21, 22 and 23, and the sampleprobes 15, 16 are each connected to a controller 60.

The analysis sequence of the analyzer having the above-mentionedconstruction will be described below.

A sample to be analyzed, such as blood, is put in the sample container10, and the sample container 10 is placed on the rack 11 and thenconveyed by the conveyer mechanism 12.

The sample in the sample container 61 is sucked by the sample probe 15or 16 and then pipetted into the sample discharge position 62.

The sample probe 15 is initially positioned in the washing position 63,and the sample probe 16 is initially positioned in the washing position64.

The sample probe 15 is moved on the rails 71 and 73 to the samplesuction position (i.e., the position of the sample container 61) wherethe sample probe head 75 is descended toward the sample container 61from above it. After sucking the sample, the sample probe head 75ascends and the sample probe 15 is moved to the sample dischargeposition (i.e., the position of the sample discharge position 62) wherethe sucked sample is discharged into the sample discharge position 62.Similarly, the sample probe 16 is moved on the rails 72 and 74 to thesample suction position where the sample probe head 76 is descendedtoward the sample container 61 from above it. After sucking the sample,the sample probe head 76 ascends and the sample probe 16 is moved to thesample discharge position where the sucked sample is discharged into thesample discharge position 62.

As seen from a time chart shown in FIG. 6, when sucking the sample bythe sample probe 15, for example, the sample probe 15 is moved to thesample suction position where the sample is sucked from the samplecontainer 61. Then, the sample probe 15 is moved to the sample dischargeposition where the sucked sample is discharged into the sample dischargeposition 62. In parallel to the movement of the sample probe 15 to thesample discharge position 62, the sample probe 16 starts moving from thewashing position 64 toward the sample container 61. At this time, toprevent the sample probes 15, 16 from colliding with each other, thesample probe 15 is moved toward the sample discharge position 62 via thewashing position 63. Likewise, after sucking the sample from the samplecontainer 61, the sample probe 16 is moved toward the sample dischargeposition 62 via the washing position 64 for discharge of the suckedsample. As a result, the time interval of sucking the sample from thesample container can be shortened. For carrying out the operation inaccordance with the time chart shown in FIG. 6, it is required toconstruct a mechanism such that the two sample probes do not cross eachother in their movements. FIGS. 7 and 8 show other mechanisms to realizethe intended operation than that shown in FIG. 5.

The difference between FIGS. 7 and 5 resides in that a curved rail 101following the movement paths of the sample probes is employed in FIG. 5,while straight rails (72-74) extending along two axes are provided inFIG. 7 to move the sample probes in a plane.

In FIG. 8, the interference between the sample probe heads 75 and 76 isavoided by using two pairs of straight rails intersecting at an obtuseangle instead of avoiding the interference (contact) between the twosample probes by using the curved rail 101 in FIG. 5 and by using twopairs of straight rails intersecting at a right angle in FIG. 7.

When sucking of the required amount of the sample from the relevantsample container is completed, the rack 11 is conveyed by the conveyermechanism 12 such that the next sample container comes to the samplesuction position.

Unlike FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 in which the sample probe is provided on thedispensing mechanism moving along one or more rails, the samplingposition can also be adjusted by providing a dispensing arm on themoving mechanism and controlling the dispensing arm to rotate ortranslate as desired.

A certain amount of reagent is pipetted from the reagent container 40placed on the reagent disk 41 or 42 into the reaction cuvette by thereagent probe 20, 21, 22 or 23. A mixture of the sample and the reagentis stirred by the mixing unit 30 or 31 to develop a reaction for apredetermined time, and is subjected to measurement by the opticaldetector 51. A measured result is outputted to a control computer (notshown). If there still remains a requested measurement item, theabove-described sampling steps are repeated. More specifically, whilethe sample probe 15 discharges the sucked sample into the reactioncuvette 35, the sample probe 16 sucks the sample from the samplecontainer 10. Then, at the time when the measurement items required forthe same sample container 10 are all completed, the sample probe 15 or16 sucks the sample from the next sample container 10. Such a samplingprocess by the sample probes 15, 16 is repeated until sampling for allthe measurement items set for all of the sample containers 10 loaded onthe rack 11 is completed.

The sample probes 15, 16 and the reagent probes 20, 21, 22 and 23 can beoperated in any desired combinations. Therefore, even when one of thesample probes 15, 16 has failed to continue the operation because of anyabnormality, the analysis can be continued for all the reagent itemsarranged on the analyzer by using the other sample probe.

Also, when it is already known that one of the sample probes 15 and 16is in an abnormal state, the analysis can be started by setting only thesample probe free from abnormality to be effective.

Furthermore, the clogging detection function of one of the sample probes15, 16 determines that any sample clogging factor exists in the samplecontainer 10 or that the sample is exhausted, the sample probe for whichthe clogging has been detected is moved to the washing port 54 forwashing of its flow passage, whereas the other sample probe can becontrolled so as to stop the sucking operation from the relevant samplecontainer and to make a shift to the sucking operation from the nextsample container 10 on the rack 11. Even in the case where the statusjudgment shows that the sample container 10 on the rack 11 cannot bemoved to the sample suction position in time, the analyzing operationcan be continued without causing useless vacant cycles because thesample probe 15 or 16 is able to suck the sample from any desired one ofplural positions.

Particularly, when the amount of the sample in the sample container isvery small such as the case of a sample taken from an infant, it ispossible to reduce the amount of a dummy which is required in thesampling operation to prevent thinning of the sample in the sample probeand is discarded into a washing tank without being discharged into thereaction cuvette 35, by using only one of the sample probes 15 and 16.

As described above, the present invention can provide an automaticanalyzer, in which an analyzer includes a plurality of sample dispensingmechanisms capable of operating independently of each other, and whichhas a high processing capability per hour and a high value added.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic analyzer comprising: a samplecontainer loading mechanism configured to load a plurality of samplecontainers each containing a sample to be analyzed, the sample containerloading mechanism including a mechanism for changing arrangements of theplurality of sample containers; a reaction cuvette loading mechanismconfigured to load a plurality of reaction cuvettes in each of which thesample be analyzed and a reagent are mixed with each other, the reactioncuvette loading mechanism including a mechanism for changingarrangements of the plurality of reaction cuvettes; a first sample probefor sucking the sample from the sample container, the first sample probedischarging the sample into one of the plurality of reaction cuvettes; afirst dispensing arm including the first sample probe, the firstdispensing arm being rotated; a first rotation axis of the firstdispensing arm, the first rotation axis being arranged between thesample container loading mechanism and the reaction cuvette loadingmechanism; a second sample probe for sucking the sample from the samplecontainer, the second sample probe discharging the sample into one ofthe plurality of reaction cuvettes; a second dispensing arm includingthe second sample probe, the second dispensing arm being rotated; asecond rotation axis of the second dispensing arm, the second rotationaxis being arranged between the sample container loading mechanism andthe reaction cuvette loading mechanism, the second rotation axis beingdifferent from the first rotation axis; and a controller programmed tocontrol the first sample probe and the second sample probe, wherein eachof the first and second sample probes has a clogging detection functionfor detecting a clogging in each of the sample probes, and thecontroller is programmed to control the first sample probe and thesecond sample probe to alternately suck the sample from the same samplecontainer, and to alternately discharge the sample into each of thereaction cuvettes of the first sample probe and the second sample probe,and the controller is programmed to stop the operation of the secondsample probe to be operated for sucking the sample from the same samplecontainer when a clogging is detected in the first sample probe.
 2. Theautomatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller isprogrammed to stop the operation of the second sample probe to beoperated for sucking the sample, and the controller is programmed tocontrol the second sample probe to suck a sample from a next samplecontainer.
 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, furthercomprising; a first washing port for washing the first sample probe at afirst washing position arranged on a path of rotational movement of thefirst sample probe; and a second washing port for washing the secondsample probe at a second washing position arranged on a path ofrotational movement of the second sample probe.
 4. The automaticanalyzer according to claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed towash a flow path at the first washing port when the controller judgesthat a clogging in the first sample probe is detected by the cloggingdetection function.
 5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,wherein the controller is programmed to control the first sample probemoving to the first washing position from the reaction cuvette beforethe second sample probe moves to the reaction cuvette from the samplecontainer.
 6. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein thecontroller is programmed to control the second sample probe moving tothe sample container from the second washing position before the firstsample probe moves to the first washing position from the reagentcuvette.
 7. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein thecontroller is programmed to control the first sample probe sucking thesample from the sample container before the second sample probe moves tothe sample container from the second washing position.
 8. The automaticanalyzer according to claim 3, wherein an initial position of the firstsample probe is the first washing position and an initial position ofthe second sample probe is the second washing position.
 9. An automaticanalyzer comprising: a conveyor mechanism configured to convey a rack onwhich a sample container containing a sample to be analyzed is loaded; areaction disk configured to load a plurality of reaction cuvettes ineach of which the sample to be analyzed and a reagent are mixed witheach other, a first sample probe for sucking the sample from the samplecontainer, the first sample probe discharging the sample into one of theplurality of reaction cuvettes; a first dispensing arm including thefirst sample probe, the first dispensing arm being rotated at a firstrotation axis arranged between the conveyor mechanism and the reactiondisk; a second sample probe for sucking the sample from the samplecontainer, the second sample probe discharging the sample into one ofthe plurality of reaction cuvettes; a second dispensing arm includingthe second sample probe, the second dispensing arm being rotated at asecond rotation axis arranged between the conveyor mechanism and thereaction disk, the second rotation axis being different from the firstrotation axis; and a controller programmed to control the first sampleprobe and the second sample probe, wherein each of the first and secondsample probes has a clogging detection function for detecting a cloggingin each of the sample probes, and the controller is programmed tocontrol the first sample probe and the second sample probe toalternately suck the sample from the same sample container, and toalternately discharge the sample into each of the reaction cuvettes ofthe first sample probe and the second sample probe, and the controlleris programmed to stop the operation of the second sample probe to beoperated for sucking the sample from the same sample container when aclogging is detected in the first sample probe.
 10. The automaticanalyzer according to claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed tostop the operation of the second sample probe to be operated for suckingthe sample, and the controller is programmed to control the secondsample probe to suck a sample from a next sample container.
 11. Theautomatic analyzer according to claim 9, further comprising; a firstwashing port for washing the first sample probe at a first washingposition arranged on a path of rotational movement of the first sampleprobe; and a second washing port for washing the second sample probe ata second washing position arranged on a path of rotational movement ofthe second sample probe.
 12. The automatic analyzer according to claim11, wherein the controller is programmed to wash a flow path at thefirst washing port when the controller judges that a clogging in thefirst sample probe is detected by the clogging detection function. 13.The automatic analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the controller isprogrammed to control the first sample probe moving to the first washingposition from the reaction cuvette after the second sample probe movesto the sample container from the second washing position and before thesecond sample probe moves to the reaction cuvette from the samplecontainer.
 14. The automatic analyzer according to claim 11, wherein thecontroller is programmed to control the second sample probe moving tothe sample container from the second washing position after the firstsample probe moves to the sample container from the first washingposition and before the first sample probe moves to the first washingposition from the reagent cuvette.
 15. The automatic analyzer accordingto claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to control the firstsample probe sucking the sample from the sample container after thesecond sample probe moves to the reaction cuvette from the samplecontainer and before the second sample probe moves to the reactioncuvette from the second washing position.
 16. The automatic analyzeraccording to claim 11, wherein an initial position of the first sampleprobe is the first washing position and an initial position of thesecond sample probe is the second washing position.